Most celebrities are not known for their intellectual prowess, but they have provided words that wowed us, from insight or sheer audacity. The USA TODAY People staff picks some stunning sound bites from stars over the past 25 years.

For three hours Sunday night, TV took time out for its yearly pat on the back. The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, broadcast on CBS from the Shrine Auditorium in L.A., was the small screen's time to primp and preen, show off its stars, crack a few jokes and recognize top acting.

The concept is classic fish-out-of-water. Take one tattooed, Pam Anderson-loving, bad boy Motley Crue drummer and put him at the University of Nebraska. Middle America. The heartland. An institution of higher learning. The result: Tommy Lee Goes to College, premiering Tuesday (9 p.m. ET/PT) on NBC.

In the career of an athletic child prodigy, burnout of some sort is inevitable. Be it the Capriati-esque crash-and-burn of a youngster, or the slow burn of an adult Williams sister or a Tiger Woods, it has to happen.